In the third quarter of Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Commanders, Saints fans were witnessing yet another, boring and embarrassing game. New Orleans was trailing 17-0, the offense couldn’t get anything going, and it was a really tough watch. Then, the Saints pulled Jake Haener and inserted Spencer Rattler into the game. At that moment, a switch flipped.
Rattler led New Orleans on four consecutive scoring drives, and gave the team a chance to win the game. The game ultimately came down to the final play, a winner-takes-all two-point attempt. The Saints were unable to convert, and lost 20-19.
While that’s a brutal way to lose, it was an encouraging moment for New Orleans’ fans. Everyone was excited about what Rattler displayed, and there was a collective thought that he could be the team’s quarterback of the future.
Unfortunately, interim head coach Darren Rizzi poured a little water on that fire after the game. When asked about Rattler possibly starting New Orleans’ Week 16 game, Rizzi was noncommittal. The reason he wasn’t willing to name Rattler the starter isn’t that the team is considering going back to Haener, it’s that the Saints are still holding out hope that Derek Carr can return.
In the eyes of fans, whether Carr gets healthy or not for the rest of the season is irrelevant; Spencer Rattler should start the final three games.
Darren Rizzi said 'I don't know' on whether he'll start Spencer Rattler against the Packers. They said they have an extra day and will see where Derek Carr is at.
— John Hendrix (@JohnJHendrix) December 15, 2024
Saints won’t name Spencer Rattler as the starter because of Derek Carr
There’s no doubt that of the current quarterbacks on New Orleans’ roster, Derek Carr gives the team the best chance to win. However, there’s also no doubt that Carr isn’t the long-term solution for the team. In two seasons as the starter in New Orleans, Carr has battled numerous injuries, and the team has been mediocre.
The Saints still have to find their quarterback of the future, and he could already be on the roster. In his limited action this season, Spencer Rattler has flashed more than enough potential for the team to explore him as an option. New Orleans isn’t going to the playoffs this year, so why not use the final three games as an opportunity to get an extended look at some young players while also getting them some valuable reps.
The only benefit to starting Carr would be possibly winning meaningless games. Starting Rattler, on the other hand, gives the team an early start on its decision-making process, as the Saints look for their next franchise quarterback.